Kyouka

Kyouka opens her eyes to a strip of sunlight and winces, trying to adjust to the harsh light.

When her vision's clear, she sees Momo in bed on the other side of the room, sleeping soundly. Kyouka watches her sleep for a few seconds. Then she rises carefully and makes her way out the door as noiselessly as she can.

She peers downstairs to the house and smiles. In the corner of the living room sits the grand piano she's had her eye on since she'd arrived. She slinks down the steps when she realizes she's alone. There are perks to being the first one up.

Kyouka hops off the last step and slides around the hardwood floors with her socks. She even does a little spin that Mina taught her. She has two left feet, but dancing is fun when no one is around, so she skips all the way over to the bench.

She removes the felt cover from the keys and lets her fingers roam around the smooth ivory as her toes curl over the pedal.

Her parents have a baby grand piano, and she has a keyboard, but this is the first time she's played something this big and official. The cover is so slick and stretches out so far, she momentarily fantasizes about what it would be like to make out over it.

Kyouka shakes her head and flips the songbook open. Her eyes skim past a few titles to until she finds one that she recognizes. Her dad used to think it was funny to play this song because her mom is afraid of animals.

Mindful of keeping the volume down, she just barely lets her fingertips press down on each note. Because she's being so quiet, and also due to her unparalleled hearing, she hears footsteps.

Her fingers freeze over the keys when she sees Bakugou slinking down the stairs.

She knows enough about him to know that he is not a morning person, so he probably hasn't slept at all. He looks it, at least. He seems to have noticed her staring because he shuffles over to her.

"Hi," she says, slightly embarrassed of being heard.

He nods back, eyes focused on the sheet music.

He snuffles. Must've caught something from staying out all night.

She was too busy helping Momo unpack to witness what exactly had gone down. She'd made the mistake of asking where Uraraka was during dinner yesterday and was met with Mina viciously shaking her head while Kirishima quickly switched the conversation. Denki had pulled her aside when they were cleaning up and explained that they'd fought earlier.

"What were you playing?" he asks. His morning voice does something to her. It's coarse but comforting in a way, like walking barefoot on warm sand.

"Um, a song about..." she squints as if she doesn't know, "Wanting a hippopotamus for Christmas."

"The hell is a hippopotamus?"

She bites her lip. "I think like a water rhino."

Bakugou scratches his jaw idly. "Who would want something like that for Christmas?"

He leans in closer to frown at the song title. He's too tired to even scowl properly. It makes him look softer... sweeter. If she's being honest, she's always had teensy-tiny little crush on him.

"Beats me." she murmurs, turning the page, "I can find something else to play,"

Kyouka is now hyperaware of their proximity. He's close enough that she can smell the cinnamint mouthwash on his breath and see the short, blonde bristles of hair on his chin. He flips the page back. "I know this one."

She plays the beginning notes, pleased to find her muscle memory still hasn't faded for this song. This is the first carol she'd ever heard because Deep Dope came out with a cover ten years ago.

One thing she's noticed— and tried not to dwell on— is the fact that Bakugou never says no to her. From back when she'd asked to sit by him on the bus ride to USJ to the time she'd requested he join the band. She figures she'd try her luck this time too.

"I," she starts, prompting him to sing along, "Don't want a lot for Christmas."

He clears his throat begrudgingly before continuing. "There is just one thing I need," he rasps.

It's flat, but she appreciates his participating in their duet. She smiles. "I don't care about the presents—"

"Underneath the Christmas tree!" Denki hollers from upstairs, effectively killing the vibe. People start stumbling in behind him, so she closes the booklet and puts her hands on her lap.

"Huh? What happened?" Denki asks when he reaches them, "I thought we were caroling."

"We were," Bakugou snarks. "Don't know what the fuck you were doing, though."

"Hey, Bakugou," he beams, clapping him on the shoulder. "Sleep well?"

Bakugou pushes him off. "Sure did, fuckwit."

Kyouka hears Bakugou's heart skip a beat when Ochako comes down the stairs with Tsuyu in hand.

Last night must've been bad. Kyouka remembers they used to fight all the time back in high school but those never lasted over an hour. Ochako would be threatening to float him up to the sun one minute and then be back in his lap the next.

Bakugou's heartrate picks up as she walks by without saying anything. Then his back tightens as he gets off the piano.

"See ya," he mutters, joining Kirishima on the couch.

"Later," she tells him and then turns her cheek to when Denki starts kissing it.

"Morning," he says in between pecks. His arms wrap her waist tightly.

"I have to go help with breakfast." she says, trying to free herself from him. "Denki, stooooop."

He licks her cheek. "Nah."

She bites her lip so she doesn't laugh as she starts poking him with her lobes.

He lets her go with a light smack on her ass. She slaps him across the face just as lightly before walking into the kitchen.

Mina's by the stove, spatula in hand. Ochako stirs a bowl of batter while Tsu cracks eggs into it. Momo's slicing oranges in half so Kyouka sits beside her and wrings them into the manual juicer. Ochako smiles over at her from across the table.

"Hey." she smiles back, "Missed you guys last night."

"Yeah, we were really tired." Tsu explains.

Mina turns around, "There's still some yakiton in the fridge."

"Maybe later." Ochako mutters as the guys shuffle in.

Kyouka zeroes in on their heartbeats now that they're both in the room. Ochako finishes stirring the bowl of pancake batter and passes it over to Mina so she can start cooking them. Kyouka transfers the juice from the juicer into a pitcher that Momo materializes. Iida scolds her for not using his family's mouth-blown glass pitcher they'd gotten from an artisan in Morocco.

Mina burns the pancakes and Kirishima eats them with a smile. Ochako stays by Deku and Tsu while Bakugou stays by Kirishima and Kaminari. It's quieter than it was during dinner.

Kyouka can hear their pulses sync when they reach for the juice at the same time. The contact lingers for a moment before they both back off and neither of them drinks anything for the rest of the meal.